Opinion on a used gyro

[ryoder]

I am thinking of buying this gyro to replace my Sperry.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/EDO-AIRE-4000B-8-DIRECTIONAL-GYRO-P-N-1U262-001-9-TSOd-Green-tag-/171629868203?pt=Motors_Aviation_Parts_Gear&hash=item27f5eff4ab&vxp=mtr

It looks like the nicest guaranteed working used one around. Is this something I can install to replace my old dg and then have my IA sign off?

Any thoughts on buying used?

My other option is a RCA lighted 14V from Spruce for 929.

I don't mind cutting the plastic cover but want to bolt it up in place.

[rbridges]

Don't know much about the gyro but the ad says local pickup and it's in canada. Aren't you in Florida?

[Marauder]

Also, do you have an autopilot or have plans on adding one? If so, you should be looking for one with a heading bug.

[N601RX]

I've not had good luck with used gyros. I've purchased a few that were working fine when removed. They worked fine for me and then failed within 50 hrs. The problem seems to be that a lot of these have set on a shelf for an extended period of time or been involved in a mishap/ part out. Manufactures have put a shelf life of 6 months on their new products for a reason. At 6 months they require them to be hooked up and ran for I believe 30 minutes.

I would perfer to buy a cheaper non working one with a clean face as a core and send it in for a fresh overhaul myself.

[drapo]

Bought a used one for my Cherokee years ago. It looked real nice and lasted 15 hrs!

Either have yours overhaul for $400 or go with Sigmatek trade-in program for $700: http://www.sigmatek.com/

[N33GG]

Friends don't let friends buy used gyros.

[ryoder]

Sounds like I won't buy it. I was worried it would die ten hours into life. Thanks.

[jetdriven]

I bought a used Castleberry 14V electric attitude gyro from a salvage plane. It was a gamble cause they can only be overhauled by Castleberry for 1200$, but it turned out good and it has been trouble free for 400hr.  The thing died a few months after we bought it, and they blamed it on the wire burning where it attaches to the circuit board inside. They blamed that on not running the 12v feed thru the avionics master. It was a 150$ repair.  But the gyro is trouble free.

 

All 3 of the other gyros we bought that came with the plane failed in the first 300 hours. Sitting on a shelf or sitting in an airplane, both are bad.

[aviatoreb]

Local pickup only - in a small town 227km due north of Quebec City in the middle of Feb.  Good luck with that ebay seller!